Reviews - Nightfall: Double Feature & West Of Sundown
From Vault Comics
Vault Comics has a pair of horror comics out this week - Nightfall: Double Feature #2 and West of Sundown #8.
Nightfall: Double Feature #2
2 Feature Stories. 64 Pages. Horror's Finest.
Cemeterians: While "skeletization" ravages the globe, causing chaos and death, Alan unveils Styx: a device capable of picking up signals from beyond the grave. After a chilling pet cemetery experiment, Alan and Ivy plug Styx into a human cemetery...and make contact.
Denizen: Enthralled by the malevolent force inhabiting an abandoned camping trailer, Helene's behavior becomes more fractured, and her-soon-to-be husband Richard is at a loss as to how to help. Young Maya finds herself equally affected by a dark dagger she's discovered, while her older sister Lily stumbles upon a ghastly clue in the desert that may explain it all... if she survives long enough to return to her family.
Writers: Daniel Kraus, Tim Daniel, David Andry
Artist: Chris Shehan, Maan House
Colorist: Jason Wordie, Kurt Michael Russell
Letterer: Andworld, Jim Campbell
This duo of horror gives us some different - yet chilling - vibes.
Cemeterians ramps up the bone-related horror, with the appearance of the bones no longer part of mythology, and now everyone is noticing them. The problems these bones are causing are pretty traumatic. Injuries and deaths follow.
The odd couple of Alan and Ivy seems to have a semblance of a plan, and they work their way into speaking with the dead. It works in a pretty spooky way in the pet cemetery and then onto an old Civil War cemetery. It looks like there may be an answer, and the next problem will change how people think.
The art is dark and dank, with old cemeteries, with dark workshops. The call to the funeral was especially well played out.
The colours work well here, with the bones becoming commonplace and some special effects working well.
Denizen is creepy in a darker way. Something is infecting the family, and the way that it is reacting to this family dynamic is pretty creepy.
I like the mix of emotions played out here, going from happy to angry, from loving to disturbing. It all needs to be connected.
The daughter is investigating and seems to have found a way - but will it be the right way?
West Of Sundown #8
Dr. Moreau and his mysterious investors offer temptations too dark and delicious to resist, as the party is split, and old wounds are reopened with a scalpel. Dirck and Dooley find truth in the desert, as the Not-Men hunt for new flesh.
Writers: Tim Seeley & Aaron Campbell
Artist: Jim Terry Colorist: Triona Farrell
Letterer: Crank!
Designer: Tim Daniel
Building on the classic horror characters in a wild west setting, West Of Sundown ramps up the tension in this second arc.
Dr. Moreau seems to have a big plan in place. We hear about his flight from London and what he plans for in this magical place. His No-Men all have their own skills, and the fact that they recognise the works of Dr Frankenstein is interesting and adds to the concept of the characters.
Constance der Abend has her own troubles, and they are preying on her vampiric form. Using this lust for blood to clear the decks.
This issue deals with the larger cast of characters really well, giving each of them all their own space as the story moves forward. It also adds more to the area in terms of character and location.
The artwork and colours add to the wild west feel, with some good scenes and conversation. The final panels prepare us for an interesting next issue.
